Poems from Prison
Encyclopedia
Poems from Prison is a debut book of poetry by African American
poet Etheridge Knight
, published in 1968. The book describes his eight-year imprisonment for robbery. It attracted the attention of such poets as Amiri Baraka
, Don Lee, Gwendolyn Brooks
, and his future wife Sonia Sanchez
, who campaigned for Knight's parole.
African American
African Americans are citizens or residents of the United States who have at least partial ancestry from any of the native populations of Sub-Saharan Africa and are the direct descendants of enslaved Africans within the boundaries of the present United States...
poet Etheridge Knight
Etheridge Knight
Etheridge Knight was an African-American poet who became a notable poet in 1968 with his debut volume, Poems from Prison. The book recalls in verse his eight-year-long sentence after Etheridge was arrested for robbery in 1960...
, published in 1968. The book describes his eight-year imprisonment for robbery. It attracted the attention of such poets as Amiri Baraka
Amiri Baraka
Amiri Baraka , formerly known as LeRoi Jones, is an American writer of poetry, drama, fiction, essays, and music criticism...
, Don Lee, Gwendolyn Brooks
Gwendolyn Brooks
Gwendolyn Elizabeth Brooks was an American poet. She was appointed Poet Laureate of Illinois in 1968 and Poet Laureate Consultant in Poetry to the Library of Congress in 1985.-Biography:...
, and his future wife Sonia Sanchez
Sonia Sanchez
Sonia Sanchez is an African American poet most often associated with the Black Arts Movement. She has authored over a dozen books of poetry, as well as plays and children's books...
, who campaigned for Knight's parole.